Respite

Bendigo Health- Carer Support Services

Carer Support Services supports carers of people who are frail aged, have a disability, or a mental or chronic illness to maintain their caring role. The service provides information and advice; respite planning, booking and purchase; emergency respite; referral and advocacy.

Information provided is free and confidential.

Carer Support Services offers assistance with:

support to individual carers and carer support groups, from Mildura to Gisborne

individual and emergency respite planning and planning for the future

respite co-ordination

residential respite information, planning and bookings

someone to talk things over with

advocacy support on carers’ behalf

referrals to other health and community services, including counselling services

access to social and community activities and support.

What is respite?

Respite means taking a break from your caring duties. It is intended to relieve the pressure of caring, providing carers with time to themselves. Respite happens when someone else takes over the caring role for a short period of time.

Respite can take place in a carer’s home, outside the home in a community setting such as a camp or planned activity group, or in a residential based facility or respite house. Respite can be planned and on a regular basis as required, or unplanned due to an emergency or crisis. It may be for a few hours, overnight, a weekend, or longer as in the case of residential respite.

How do you contact Carer Support Services?

Carers can refer themselves to the service directly. Alternatively a doctor or any community, medical or allied health service such as physiotherapy or district nursing can refer to our service, with client permission.

Offices are located throughout Loddon Mallee in Mildura, Swan Hill, Echuca, Bendigo and Castlemaine.

CSS also have a Young Carers Program. This is suitable for school aged siblings who help look after the family member who has an ASD.

Distinctive Options

At Distinctive Options, we are committed to supporting service users to exercise a full range of decision making and independent living options. We offer group and individual support with a friendly and user-centered approach. Family members are encouraged to work alongside our professional staff to be part of the support network via regular communication and feedback.

Interchange

Interchange is a non-profit, community organisation that provides respite support to families who support a person on the autism spectrum. Interchange clients come from diverse walks of life and have varying levels of support need. They offer services to many children, but also to adults. They often run camps during the school holidays for kids groups, teenager groups and adults. They run programs after school,on Saturdays and during the school holidays.

Golden City Support Services

Golden City Support Services offers many levels of support, from just a couple of hours a week to 24 hours a day. Support is provided to meet individual support needs and pays attention to service planning where the person is at the centre of the process. We are highly skilled and experienced in working with people with a broad range of support needs including: physical disabilities, intellectual, cognitive and learning disabilities, sight and hearing disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, acquired brain injury, dual disabilities.

Scope

Scope can support your child or young adult to become more independent at home, at school and in the community. Together, we can create a plan that best suits your needs. We continue to tailor your services throughout the different stages of your life, changing as you change.